Posts tagged energy challenge

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’m back for the end of the semester rush. Over the past month, I decided to give the blog a rest. I thought about whether it was the best way for me to communicate my work at Hollins and E&H, and whether anyone was still reading it. And after this crisis of confidence, I decided that I’d just keep writing anyways and think about using other forms of communication as well. So, I’ll be back with regular updates (at least weekly) on what’s going on at both campuses.

With that being said, I’d like to congratulate the residents of Stuart and West Halls at E&H and Hollins, respectively. Both won their inaugural energy challenges, although both were close contests. Even though we are small institutions, we helped contribute to the 1.7 million kWh saved during the course of the Campus Conservation Nationals. It was a great effort from more than 100 schools across the country, and we hope to compete (and win!) next year as well.

Now for some project updates. Last month E&H broke ground on its latest residence hall, which was designed to achieve passive house certification (read more about PH here). Like its sister building, Elm Hall, Hickory Hall will be built using modular construction and should be much more energy-efficient than our existing residence halls. I’ll provide updates during the construction process this summer. Construction is also well underway for the Brooks Field House, which will utilize a geothermal HVAC system and was designed to achieve LEED-Silver certification.

Not to be outdone, Hollins will be retrofitting its largest residence hall, Tinker House, with a geothermal system as well. Work is scheduled to start in a few weeks and will wrap up before the students return in the fall. We’re excited to see how this new system performs and, as above, I’ll be posting pictures along the way. Until then, this picture of Dana’s solar panels on this beautiful day will have to suffice.

Next spring, both Emory and Hollins will be putting their commitment to conservation to the test. Both schools will be competing in the Campus Conservation Nationals. This national energy challenge, hosted by Lucid Design Group, the US Green Building Council, the Alliance to Save Energy, and the National Wildlife Federation, will include more than 170 schools across the country.

The competition will be taking place in select residence halls on each campus. At Emory, these will include Hillman and Wiley-Jackson. At Hollins, the competing halls will be Tinker, Randolph, East, West, and Main. We will be competing nationally for a chance to win two Lucid Design building dashboards. Results will be measured by percent reduction in electricity usage versus a baseline period to take place prior to the competition. Additionally, the biggest reducer on each campus will win a prize (to be determined later, but most likely involving free food!).

More details will be available early next semester. If you are interested in getting involved by being a floor captain, developing marketing materials, or just spreading the word, feel free to send me an email (freedmanjb at hollins dot edu).